Questions regarding actual traveling (not specific to agency)

[PaulaFlexRN]

Hello,

I think I have my heart set on travel nursing as well. Though I know I am not ready. I think I need at least another year experience. I've been asking questions to the travelers that have come through where I work and they think I would do fine traveling. I have been a nurse for almost a year. I think I want to go into the float pool about 6 months before traveling...but I don't know-I know there is a need for tele/step-down nurses so that may be good enough.

I am very flex-so i don't have an issue floating to other floors, assignments being switched mid shift, etc.. I get along with others. I tend to go with the flow (people at my current work think I should be a float nurse). And I pick up things quickly. My question is

1) When did you think you were ready? Do you ever think you are ready?

2) How long did you wait to travel? Do you think you felt ready?

3) How do you deal with situations that are new? (this hospital does bedside bubble studies...this hospital sends the pt down and bedside nurse doesn't see it, etc)

4) How many travel agencies do you work for? I'm suggested to go with at least 2.

5) I know this is dependent on the travel agencies but how does licenses work? Do you generally pay for them or does the agency?

[cmimmel]

Hi there!

Great questions, many of which I asked myself before deciding to travel.

#1: I think you'll know, it is a personal thing. For me, I considered traveling a year ago, but something held me back, I was just really unsure.When I finally started reconsidering, it just felt right. I knew I had enough experience under my belt, my personal life could accomodate traveling, and mentally I was ready to move on from the job I had to something else.

#2: As I mention above, I considered traveling over a year ago and just started traveling this February. But I started thinking about it when they metioned it in nursing school, I always thought it would be so cool. Plus, I love to travel and everytime I would visit a place I wondered what it would be like to live there for just a short time to try it out!

#3: I love to learn new things, so new nursing situations tend to give me a charge. I actually was an infusion nurse and started my first travel job in Radiation oncology, no where near my specialty. But I enjoyed the challenge of learning it at a fast pace and picking things up as I went along.

#4: Spend a lot of time researching travel agencies. There are so many of them and each offers different things. I have 3 companies I'm primarily searching for jobs with, but have a few others that could be a back up if I needed it that place nurses in specialities like mine.

#5: Again, each agency is different, so if this is important, be sure to ask up front. I didn't need to pay for my license in New Hampshire because I have a compact state license. But each of my three agencies would pay for the licensing and even pay to fly me out to states like California to do fingerprinting if necessary. Not sure if you pay up front and they reimburse you (I imagine this is how it works) or if they pay up front, couldn't answer that one!

Good luck with the decision making, I wish you the best!

[Italia61703]

Cmimmel,

I am considering travel nursing and am talking to some companies now. Are you able to PM the companies you are working with now? Do you find it hard to go from one job to the next? I am scared to give up a full time job and not know where I will be the next contract. But like you said I'm ready to move on from where I am now.

Thanks

[cmimmel]

Sorry for the late response! Send me a message with any other questions you have and I can let you know which companies I've been working with and some resources I used before I made my decision to travel!

[kr1834]

cmimmel,

I'm new so can't PM you, is there another way I can find out what companies you've been working with?

Thanks